Chapter 1518: Demonstrating an Attitude

"Third Master!"

Qi Dazhu brought a woman with a scar on her face and happily bowed to Wang Yan.

Previously, after the suppression of the Japanese pirates within Chun'an, the front lines were strained, and young, able-bodied men were drafted from the rear to handle logistics and grain transport; this was a mandatory quota. Qi Dazhu had volunteered, so Wang Yan simply indulged him. It wasn't just a trip out to fight; he had indeed found himself a wife.

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "Not bad. You went out for a trip, earned quite a bit of military merit, and even managed to find such a beautiful wife."

"This commoner woman greets Third Master. It was Dazhu who saved me; if not for him, I fear I would have died long ago."

"Good, good. That's quite a heroic story of a hero saving a beauty."

"Third Master, how could I be a hero?" Qi Dazhu chuckled foolishly, then turned to say, "However, my wife is indeed a beauty, it's just that she was slashed on the face by the Japanese pirates. Third Master, you are a divine physician; could you take a look at her?"

"To say it can be completely erased is impossible, but making the scar shallower is doable. I'll resolve it for you in these next few days."

Wang Yan agreed readily, then turned to cup his hands toward Zhu Qi, who was standing to the side: "Seventh Master, it really has been a long time. It's just that Dazhu brought his wife back, which surprised me; it was not my intention to slight you, Seventh Master."

"You and I are brothers, why bother with these empty formalities?" Zhu Qi laughed. "It is you, however, who has truly made us look at you with new eyes."

Without waiting for Wang Yan to express his confusion, he continued, "I heard that previously you led Qi Dazhu and the other local militia to suppress the Japanese pirates, personally donning armor and wielding weapons to charge at the front. You killed over a dozen Japanese pirates in a single charge, with no one under your hand able to withstand a single blow?"

"I merely relied on the advantage of my armor and brute force to charge about."

"That is also your ability. I used to think you were just for show, spending all day practicing those slow, leisurely punches. I didn't expect you to be a master. It just so happens that this time you must follow me; we shall have a proper sparring session, and it will also serve as revenge for my being captured alive by the commoners of Chun'an."

"What talk of revenge for being captured alive? Seventh Master, you were simply unwilling to harm the commoners. As for the sparring, Wang Yan is ready at any time."

Responding with this, Wang Yan asked, "I wonder when we shall set off?"

"No rush."

Zhu Qi waved his hand with a smile, "The Imperial Court has sent Yan Maoqing to inspect the salt, and we must also take a look."

He did not speak loudly, merely revealing a bit to Wang Yan. Because the attitude displayed here was different; it was Jiajing's naked suspicion. However, Wang Yan was one of their own, not part of the Yan faction, and his mouth was tight enough; knowing a little bit was not a big problem, and it could even better demonstrate closeness.

Zhu Qi continued speaking, "Additionally, His Majesty heard that you intend to build houses for all the commoners in the county. Now that three months have passed, the houses should be mostly finished, right? One should see things through to the end. It won't be too late to follow me to the capital after they are all built before winter."

"I thank His Majesty for his immense grace." Wang Yan immediately kowtowed toward the direction of the capital, fully demonstrating a good attitude of loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country.

This sort of thing is never wrong to do; one never knows when it might play a major role. After all, not everyone is always respectful to the great Emperor, and one never knows when someone might find a fault and report it, leading to a miserable end.

Wang Yan had nothing else, only a heart full of loyalty...

Just like that, taking advantage of the time before winter, Wang Yan accelerated the progress of house construction even further. In fact, it hadn't been slow to begin with; brick-firing kilns were opened everywhere, and the thick smoke never stopped rising. 【1524】 Mining coal, transporting, building houses—all kinds of manpower were fully utilized. And at the wharf, boatload after boatload of timber was transported over, piling up like mountains. 【1525】 The commoners were not short of money to buy timber for beams; they had already sold two crops of raw silk, and with the grain they had borrowed earlier, the commoners were still well-off. The silver the county office had advanced to buy timber for beams had all been recovered. 【1526】 Added to this were the liquid assets obtained from raiding the wealthy families who colluded with the Japanese pirates, as well as the monthly cleaning fees collected from shops within the county. At present, the fiscal situation of Chun'an County could be said to have reached its best level in nearly a decade. This was not false, because Wang Yan was the Registrar, and the Chun'an County account books had never suffered a fire, so he had reconciled the past accounts. 【1527】 And after three years, once the tax-exemption period passed and they began collecting taxes on the commoners' fields, the fiscal situation would be even better. 【1528】 Guaranteeing the current tax rate without further increases, it would be absolutely correct to call Chun'an a place of great governance, where the administration is smooth and the people are in harmony. 【1529】 However, considering that Wang Yan, Hai Rui, and even Tian Youlu were all about to leave Chun'an, Wang Yan and Hai Rui gathered to calculate, and then began a surprise spending spree. 【1530】 They expanded the Ever-Normal Granary, increasing the original storage of 30,000 shi of grain to 50,000 shi. At the same time, they built several academies and issued subsidies to the few promising scholars in the county who had passed Hai Rui's tests, hoping they would rise step by step. Another portion of the money was used to care for the widowed, elderly, and children of the county, urgently building a welfare institution to centrally adopt these people. 【1531】 They arranged work for the elderly and let the children study and learn crafts. At the same time, Wang Yan personally went to the countryside to inspect and explain the principles clearly to the commoners, and found a group of people willing to follow his orders, assigning them the task of protecting the commoners. 【1532】 Of course, when he made people work, he always ensured they were well-fed. The silver Jiajing gave him, even if he ate and drank, still had quite a bit left over; his grand undertaking of raising pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese still had to be carried out. 【1533】 He still spent money to buy these young animals, letting those who worked for him raise them, and when they were fully grown, he would spend money to buy them back. After calculating the costs, earning a small profit was enough to keep the operation running. The commoners raised chickens, ducks, and geese, which allowed them to eat eggs and breed their own young, expanding the industry. 【1534】 As long as disease control was guaranteed, it was a happy situation for everyone. 【1535】 What Wang Yan wanted to do was to train veterinarians, while simultaneously researching and disseminating breeding techniques; these were the foundations. And he was the only one willing to do it, and capable of doing it. 【1536】 After such a flurry of activity, the money in the government office was basically spent. The plan to repair the official roads that he had thought about earlier naturally could not be carried out. 【1537】 Repairing the official roads was not that urgent; after all, the current roads were still usable. The other various expenditures were beneficial to Chun'an. No matter how it was spent, as long as it was spent within the county, it was good. 【1538】 After such a flurry of activity, Hai Rui had another standoff with Yan Maoqing, leaving Yan Maoqing looking disgraced, and Wang Yan was finally about to set off. 【1539】 "Great Magistrate, you must be careful when serving as an official elsewhere," Wang Yan said. "Your wife is pregnant, and your eldest niece is young. If problems arise, those lawless people really dare to take risks. The most urgent matter now is to prioritize protecting the pregnancy. This is a boy, which can be considered fulfilling your mother's wish. 【1540】 I will not advise you; ultimately, how you choose depends on yourself. Think it through clearly, and don't regret it." 【1541】 Hai Rui was silent; he didn't know what to say. 【1542】 Wang Yan turned his head to look at Tian Youlu: "Good brother, you too. After being transferred elsewhere, be less greedy. You should still do some things for the commoners." 【1543】 Tian Youlu sighed long and hard: "Third Master, even if I want to do things, I must have the means. Once I'm elsewhere, won't it still be the local low-level officials calling the shots, and the local wealthy families calling the shots? I am all alone, with little power; it would be good enough if I could just live my own life peacefully." 【1544】 "We can be considered to have worked together once. I'll give you a few words of advice; whether you listen or not is up to you." 【1545】 Wang Yan patted him on the shoulder, then left the county office, boarded the carriage, took Qi Dazhu and his wife, and set off for the capital with Zhu Qi... 【1546】 Parting is just like this; there are no great sorrows or sentiments, just saying goodbye on such an ordinary day. 【1547】 Wang Yan's departure did not have much fanfare. The commoners knew he was leaving, but they didn't know when. Moreover, there was a meat shop opened by Wang Yan in the county; Third Master's business was right here, so he could certainly manage affairs here. 【1548】 Therefore, there was no scene of commoners holding ten-thousand-people umbrellas to see him off for ten miles, and Wang Yan just left like that. 【1549】 Qi Dazhu had several brothers at home, so he didn't need to serve his parents. Following Third Master gave him peace of mind, and taking his wife along, he just considered it following Third Master to the capital to get rich. 【1550】 Along the way, they strolled leisurely, neither fast nor slow. Every day, Wang Yan sparred with Zhu Qi and the other Embroidered Uniform Guards. After beating Zhu Qi and the others, their attitude toward him became even more enthusiastic. Every morning, they would practice together and ask him for advice on combat and health preservation. 【1551】 After all, Wang Yan had high martial arts skills and excellent medical skills. Although medicine and martial arts are not separate, they all knew a little bit, but they were not refined. After asking Wang Yan for advice, letting Wang Yan give them massages, and prescribing a few doses of medicine to regulate their bodies, they clearly perceived that some of their old ailments had vanished, truly feeling like they had been reborn. 【1552】 Qi Dazhu also learned along with them. After strolling leisurely for a month, Qi Dazhu's combat level had improved quite a bit. 【1553】 And along this journey, Wang Yan and the others were also very comfortable. The post stations along the way served them good food and drink. Because they were not in a hurry, they could also take time to inspect the surrounding areas and see the various states of the people's livelihood. 【1554】 By the time they slowly followed Yan Maoqing's salt inspection team into the capital, it was already the end of the year. 【1555】 It was snowing heavily that day. 【1556】 The carriage swayed into the city and happened to run into a squad of soldiers and a large group of officials in red and purple. The carriage was blocked and not allowed to pass, so Zhu Qi jumped down from the carriage. 【1557】 "I wondered who was charging over at this time; so it's Seventh Master," Yan Shifan greeted him proactively, his voice loud and full of confidence. 【1558】 Zhu Qi cupped his hands: "So it is the Junior Cabinet Minister. Junior Cabinet Minister, please do not take offense." 【1559】 "You and I are brothers, why take offense? Is this bringing back the people who colluded with the Japanese pirates?" 【1560】 "Exactly." 【1561】 "Wang Yan is also here?" 【1562】 "Exactly." Zhu Qi nodded. 【1563】 Yan Shifan laughed and said loudly: "There is such a person, a tiny ninth-rank Registrar, who actually dares to recklessly discuss national policy, oppose superiors, defy imperial orders, incite commoners to gather and cause chaos, and even collude with Japanese pirates to disrupt our Southeast." 【1564】 He walked step by step to the side of the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looked at the person surnamed Wang who was using a small red clay stove to drink jar-jar tea inside. 【1565】 "What, the person who fears neither heaven nor earth has no temper now that he's in the capital? Huh?" 【1566】 Wang Yan glanced at him: "Yan Shifan, it's not that I fear you; it's that I don't want to make things difficult for His Majesty." 【1567】 Yan Shifan was so angry he laughed: "You made some bullshit cement and white glass for His Majesty, and you think you can earn silver for him? You think you can sleep soundly? I tell you, you are dead this time. Don't want to make things difficult for His Majesty? What? Do you still want to kill me?" 【1568】 Wang Yan chuckled, reached out directly to grab Yan Shifan's neck, and dragged him some distance into the carriage. 【1569】 People outside saw a pair of hands reach out, Yan Shifan's head hidden behind the curtain, his legs off the ground, struggling wildly. 【1570】 Zhu Qi's face turned green: "Wang Yan! Stop!" 【1571】 As he spoke, he flew over, lifted the curtain, and pried at Wang Yan's hands. 【1572】 "Junior Cabinet Minister!" 【1573】 Luo Longwen, Yan Maoqing, and the others all shouted anxiously, "Someone! Someone! Save him! Seize this thief for me, tear him to pieces!" 【1574】 The carriage was only so big, and the soldiers around couldn't get their hands in. And Zhu Qi, gritting his teeth, used all his strength, but couldn't pry open Wang Yan's hands, and could only helplessly watch as Yan Shifan's face turned a liver-purple color, looking like he wouldn't survive. 【1575】 "Wang Yan, you cannot do something foolish..." Zhu Qi's voice was filled with sorrow. 【1576】 Wang Yan slapped Yan Shifan's mouth with his other hand, then released his grip, kicked him flying into the snow, and looked at Zhu Qi strangely: "Seventh Master, you didn't think I really wanted to kill him, did you?" 【1577】 "Uh..." Zhu Qi didn't answer, hurriedly jumping off the carriage to try and support Yan Shifan, who was gasping for air and coughing uncontrollably. 【1578】 Yan Shifan angrily pushed Zhu Qi away, and Yan Maoqing on the side shouted: "Zhu Qi, you actually didn't put shackles on a person who colluded with Japanese pirates? You condone him murdering the Junior Cabinet Minister in public? What is your intention!" 【1579】 "Damn bastard, I was brought to the capital for investigation, not directly convicted of a crime. You dog-brained bastard, what kind of dog-fart are you spouting?" 【1580】 Wang Yan crawled out of the carriage and stood on the carriage shaft, "Furthermore, don't you know whether I am guilty or not? You bastards, only you are allowed to slander me? I'm not allowed to fight back?" 【1581】 "Audacious! Impudent!" 【1582】 "Someone, seize him for me." 【1583】 "Nobody move!" Zhu Qi stopped the crowd and looked at Yan Shifan, who was clutching his neck, "Junior Cabinet Minister, this is the person His Majesty wants. No matter what, he should not be seized by the Junior Cabinet Minister's men. Today, the Junior Cabinet Minister was injured, and the fault lies with Zhu Qi. After returning, I will naturally plead guilty to His Majesty." 【1584】 Yan Shifan stared fixedly at Wang Yan and waved his hand: "Let them go!" 【1585】 Wang Yan tilted his head at Yan Shifan: "Junior Cabinet Minister, I observe that your forehead is dark; you have a disaster of blood and violence. You should be careful. When a person is unlucky, even drinking cold water can get stuck in their teeth. If things go wrong, you might get 'horse-back wind' (stroke during intercourse) tonight while favoring your concubine." 【1586】 After this insult, Wang Yan was ushered into the carriage by Zhu Qi. 【1587】 "You really know how to cause trouble..." 【1588】 "I was harmed by them. Yan Shifan shoved his face right up to me; if I didn't slap his face, it wouldn't be right, would it?" Wang Yan began to mutter, "Seventh Master, you are clear on this. I became an official just to earn silver, but I had only been in office for two days when that bastard Yan Shifan ordered the destruction of the dikes to flood the fields... 【1589】 Up to now, let alone silver, I haven't earned a single copper coin. It was His Majesty who provided relief, distributing a thousand taels of silver first, otherwise, even eating and drinking would be a problem." 【1590】 Zhu Qi sighed helplessly: "I know it hasn't been easy for you, but who is Yan Shifan? You almost choked him to death; can this be settled easily? You are in big trouble. From now on, you'll have to sleep with your eyes open..." 【1591】 Wang Yan chuckled... 【1592】?? Daily thanks to the great brothers who tip, vote for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and silently read the book for their strong support! ===== CHAPTER 1519 =====

Mining for coal, transporting, building houses—all kinds of manpower were fully deployed. There was also the wharf, where boatload after boatload of timber was transported over, piling up like a mountain.

The commoners were currently not short of money to buy timber for roof beams; they had already sold two rounds of raw silk, and with the grain they had borrowed earlier, the commoners were still quite well-off. The silver that the county yamen had advanced earlier to buy the timber had all been recovered.

Added to this were the liquid assets unearthed from raiding the wealthy households that had colluded with the Japanese pirates, as well as the monthly cleaning fees collected from shops within the county. At present, Chun'an County's finances could be said to have reached the best level in nearly ten years. This was no lie, because Wang Yan was the Chief Clerk, and the Chun'an County accounting office had never had a fire, so he had reconciled the past accounts.

And once three years had passed, after the tax-exemption period ended and they began collecting taxes on the commoners' fields, the finances would be even better.

Guaranteeing the current tax rate without any further increases, it was absolutely no exaggeration to call Chun'an a place of great governance, where the administration was effective and the people were harmonious.

However, considering that Wang Yan, Hai Rui, and even Tian Youlu were all about to leave Chun'an, the two of them gathered together to calculate, and then began a spending spree.

They expanded the Ever-Normal Granary, increasing it from the original storage capacity of 30,000 shi of grain to 50,000 shi. At the same time, they built several schools and issued subsidies to the promising scholars in the county who had passed Hai Rui's tests, hoping they would advance step by step. Another portion of the money was used to look after the widowed, elderly, and children of the county, urgently building a welfare home to take these people in collectively.

They arranged work for the elderly and let the children study and learn a trade. At the same time, Wang Yan personally went to the countryside to inspect, explained the principles clearly to the commoners, and found a group of people willing to follow his orders, assigning them the job of protecting the commoners.

Of course, when he made people work, he always ensured they were well-fed. The silver Jiajing had given him, even after his own eating and drinking, still had quite a bit left over; his grand undertaking of raising pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese still had to be carried out.

He continued to spend money to buy these young animals, letting the people who worked for him raise them, and when they were fully grown, he would spend money to buy them back. After calculating the costs, earning a little bit was enough to keep the operation running. The commoners raising chickens, ducks, and geese could also eat eggs and breed their own young, which could expand the industry.

As long as the control of epidemics was guaranteed, that was a happy event for everyone.

What Wang Yan wanted to do was to train veterinarians, while simultaneously conducting research and dissemination of breeding techniques; these were the foundations. And only he was willing to do it, and had the ability to do it.

After such a flurry of activity, the money in the yamen was basically spent. The plan he had earlier for repairing the official roads naturally could not be carried out.

Repairing official roads was not that urgent; after all, the current roads could still be used. The other various expenditures were beneficial to Chun'an. No matter how it was spent, as long as it was spent within the county, it was good.

After such a flurry of activity, Hai Rui had once again locked horns with Yan Maoqing, leaving Yan Maoqing looking disheveled, and Wang Yan was finally about to set off.

"My lord, when you serve as an official elsewhere, you must be careful," Wang Yan said. "Your wife is pregnant, and your eldest niece is young; if trouble arises, those lawless people are truly capable of taking risks. The top priority now is to protect the pregnancy. This is a male heir, which can be considered fulfilling your mother's wish."

"I won't try to persuade you; how you choose is up to you. Just consider it clearly and don't regret it."

Hai Rui was silent; he did not know what to say.

Wang Yan turned his head to look at Tian Youlu: "Good brother, you too; after you are transferred elsewhere, be less greedy, and still do some things for the commoners."

Tian Youlu let out a long sigh: "Third Master, even if I want to do things, I have to have the means. Once I'm elsewhere, won't it still be the local low-level officials calling the shots, and the local wealthy families calling the shots? I am all alone, weak and powerless; it would be good enough if I could just live my own life peacefully."

"We can be considered to have worked together once; here are a few words of advice for you, whether you listen or not is up to you."

Wang Yan patted him on the shoulder, then immediately left the county yamen, got into the carriage, and taking Qi Dazhu and his wife, set off for the capital with Zhu Qi...

Parting is just like this; there are no great sorrows or sentiments, just saying goodbye to each other on such an ordinary day.

Wang Yan's departure did not have much fanfare. The commoners knew he was leaving, but they were not clear on when. Moreover, there was still the meat shop Wang Yan had opened in the county; Third Master's business was right here, so he would certainly be able to manage things here.

Therefore, there was no scene of commoners holding "ten-thousand-people umbrellas" to see him off for ten miles; Wang Yan just left like this.

Qi Dazhu had several brothers at home, so he didn't need to serve his parents; following Third Master gave him peace of mind, and taking his wife along, he just considered it following Third Master to the capital to make a fortune.

Strolling along the way, neither fast nor slow, Wang Yan sparred with Zhu Qi and the other Embroidered Uniform Guards every day. After beating Zhu Qi and the others up, their attitude toward him became even more enthusiastic. Every morning, everyone practiced together, asking him for advice on combat and health-preserving knowledge.

After all, Wang Yan had high martial arts skills and excellent medical skills. Although medicine and martial arts were not separate, they all knew a little bit, but they were not refined. After asking Wang Yan for advice, letting Wang Yan give them massages, and prescribing a few doses of medicine to regulate their bodies, they clearly perceived that some old ailments had vanished; it was truly like being reborn.

Qi Dazhu also learned along with them. Walking slowly for a month, Qi Dazhu's combat level had improved quite a bit.

And along this journey, Wang Yan and the others were also very comfortable, being served good food and drink at the post stations along the way. Because they were not in a hurry, they could also take time to inspect the surroundings and see the various aspects of the people's lives there.

By the time they slowly followed Yan Maoqing's salt inspection team into the capital, it was already the end of the year.

It was snowing heavily that day.

The carriage swayed into the city and happened to run into a squad of soldiers and a large group of high-ranking officials in purple robes. The carriage was blocked and not allowed to pass, so Zhu Qi jumped down from the carriage.

"I wondered who was charging over at this time; so it's Seventh Master," Yan Shifan greeted him proactively, his voice loud and his confidence strong.

Zhu Qi cupped his hands: "So it's the Little Cabinet Minister; please don't take offense, Little Cabinet Minister."

"You and I are brothers, what offense is there to take? Is this someone caught colluding with the Japanese pirates brought back?"

"Exactly."

"Is Wang Yan also there?"

"Exactly," Zhu Qi nodded.

Yan Shifan laughed and said loudly: "There is such a person, a tiny ninth-rank Chief Clerk, who dares to recklessly discuss national policy, oppose superiors, defy imperial orders, incite commoners to gather and create chaos, and even worse, collude with Japanese pirates to disrupt our Southeast."

He walked step by step to the side of the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looked at Wang Mouren, who was drinking tea from a small jar over a red clay stove inside.

"Why, the person who fears neither heaven nor earth has no temper now that he's in the capital? Huh?"

Wang Yan glanced at him: "Yan Shifan, it's not that I'm afraid of you; it's that I don't want to make things difficult for His Majesty."

Yan Shifan was so angry he laughed: "You made some bullshit cement and white glass for His Majesty, and you think you can earn silver for His Majesty? You think you can sit back and relax? I'm telling you, you're dead this time. You don't want to make things difficult for His Majesty? What? Do you still want to kill me?"

Wang Yan chuckled, reached out directly, grabbed Yan Shifan by the throat, and dragged him some distance into the carriage.

People outside saw a pair of hands reach out, Yan Shifan's head hidden behind the curtain, his legs off the ground, struggling wildly.

Zhu Qi's face turned green: "Wang Yan! Stop!"

As he spoke, he flew over, lifted the curtain, and pried at Wang Yan's hand.

"Little Cabinet Minister!"

Luo Longwen, Yan Maoqing, and the others all shouted anxiously, "Come here! Come here! Save him! Catch this thief for me, tear him into ten thousand pieces!"

The carriage was only so big, and the surrounding soldiers couldn't get their hands in. And Zhu Qi, gritting his teeth, used all his strength, but couldn't pry open Wang Yan's hand, and could only helplessly watch as Yan Shifan's complexion turned a dark purple, looking like he wouldn't survive.

"Wang Yan, you can't do something stupid..." Zhu Qi's voice was filled with sorrow.

Wang Yan slapped Yan Shifan with his other hand, then let go, and kicked him flying into the snow, looking at Zhu Qi strangely: "Seventh Master, you didn't think I really wanted to kill him, did you?"

"Uh..." Zhu Qi didn't answer, hurriedly jumping off the carriage to support Yan Shifan, who was gasping for air and coughing uncontrollably.

Yan Shifan pushed Zhu Qi away angrily, and Yan Maoqing on the side shouted: "Zhu Qi, you actually didn't put shackles on someone colluding with Japanese pirates? You condone him murdering the Little Cabinet Minister in public? What are your intentions!"

"Damn it, I was brought to the capital for investigation, not directly convicted of a crime. You bastard, what kind of bullshit are you spouting?"

Wang Yan climbed out of the carriage and stood on the carriage shaft, "Furthermore, don't you know whether I'm guilty or not? You bastards, only you are allowed to slander me? I'm not allowed to fight back?"

"Audacious! Impudent!"

"Come here, take him for me."

"Don't move!" Zhu Qi stopped everyone, looking at Yan Shifan, who was clutching his neck in front of him, "Little Cabinet Minister, this is someone His Majesty wants; no matter what, he shouldn't be taken by the Little Cabinet Minister's people. Today the Little Cabinet Minister was injured, the fault lies with Zhu Qi; after I return, I will personally plead guilty to His Majesty."

Yan Shifan stared fixedly at Wang Yan and waved his hand: "Let them go!"

Wang Yan tilted his head at Yan Shifan: "Little Cabinet Minister, I observe that your forehead is dark; you have a disaster of bloodshed coming. You should be careful; when a person is unlucky, even drinking cold water can get stuck in their teeth. If things go wrong, you might get a stroke while favoring your concubine tonight."

After this jab, Wang Yan was ushered into the carriage by Zhu Qi.

"You really are capable of causing trouble..."

"I was harmed by them; Yan Shifan shoved his face right up to me, it wouldn't be right if I didn't slap his face, would it?" Wang Yan muttered, "Seventh Master, you are clear about this. I became an official just to make some silver, but only two days after taking office, the bastard Yan Shifan ordered the destruction of embankments and flooding of fields...

Up to now, let alone silver, I haven't earned a single copper coin; it was still His Majesty's relief that distributed a thousand taels of silver first, otherwise even my eating and drinking would be a problem."

Zhu Qi let out a helpless sigh: "I know you haven't had it easy, but who is Yan Shifan? You almost choked him to death; can this be resolved easily? You have big trouble ahead. From now on, you'll have to sleep with your eyes open..."

Wang Yan chuckled...

?? Daily thanks to the good brothers who tip, vote for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and silently read the book for their strong support!